No Kenyan Has Right to Harm People or Destroy Property - Ruto Says Amid Foreigners in Kenya Debate

President William Ruto has once again restated his administration's stance on foreign nationals operating in Kenya, insisting that the country remains open to investors and workers from across the region even as his government undertakes a crackdown on unregulated small-scale trade by foreigners.

Speaking Saturday, September 12, during the laying of the foundation stone for Chebunyo Mother and Child Hospital in Bomet County, Ruto said Kenya had deliberately positioned itself as an investment-friendly destination.

"Let me say this also; Kenya is very open for business. We work with, we have gone out of our way to make sure that we create an environment for investment and for working with many development partners, many private sector people in the development of our country," Ruto said.

He acknowledged the ongoing public debate over foreign participation in Kenya's economy, stating that all investors remained welcome in the country.

"I know there has been a big debate about who should work in Kenya, who should invest in Kenya. Let me say this for the record. All investors have space in Kenya. We have gone out of our way to eliminate barriers, to remove bottlenecks that have impeded investment in our republic," he said.

The president pointed to growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) as evidence of his government's approach, citing a near doubling in inflows over the past three years.

"And because of what we have done over the last three years, foreign direct investment that has come into this country has grown from 1.6 billion dollars to 3.2 billion dollars. In fact, we are looking at doubling that foreign direct investment next year because of some of the other investments that are already, that we've already signed," Ruto said.

He cited an upcoming major deal as an example of investor confidence in the country.

"One of them being, end of this month, we will be signing a 16 billion dollar commitment by Dangote to build a refinery in Lamu and many others that are on course," he said.

Ruto also reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to regional economic integration, saying citizens of partner trading blocs remained free to invest and work in the country within the law.

"As citizens of this country, we are believers in the East African Community. We are believers in COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area. And citizens of all these trading zones, whether it is EAC or COMESA or African Continental Free Trade Area, are free to invest in our country. They are free to work in Kenya within the rules that are provided for in Kenya so that we can together be able to grow our region," he said.

However, the president warned against citizens taking matters into their own hands against foreign nationals, insisting that all persons operating in Kenya would be treated fairly under the law.

"And no citizen has a right to take the law into their hands and harm other people from other areas. Every person from wherever they come from will be treated fairly in accordance with the regulations governing employment in Kenya, investment in Kenya, visit to Kenya, whether they are tourists, whether they have come to work or whether they have come to invest. We will continue to be an open society because that is the DNA of Kenya," Ruto said.

The president's remarks come days after he directed the government to undertake a 90-day regularisation exercise for foreign nationals conducting business in Kenya, following complaints from small-scale traders who petitioned him over what they termed unfair competition from foreign traders. The directive, issued on September 8, drew criticism from some quarters, with critics accusing Ruto of unfairly targeting foreign nationals.

State House had subsequently clarified that the President's directive was intended to protect economic opportunities for Kenyans while also safeguarding the rights of foreign nationals lawfully residing and conducting business in the country.

Ruto had further directed that the Local Content Bill, 2025, currently before Parliament, be expanded to create a regulatory framework governing participation in small-scale trade and enterprise.

According to State House, the policy seeks to balance the protection of opportunities for Kenyan citizens with Kenya's continued openness to lawful foreign investment, enterprise and employment.